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Category Archives: New York City

NYC

5 Magical Holiday Traditions in New York City 

Blog, New York City, student groups, walking tour

Imagine it. The twinkle of lights, the scrumptious scent of roasting chestnuts on street corners, and the hustle-and-bustle of people with packages just waiting to be wrapped in colorful paper with bows and ribbons. Add in some holiday music and you have the recipe for an idyllic holiday visit to New York City. 

The holiday season is a magical time for children and adults alike and New York City, withits colorful decorations, Broadway shows, and active city ambiance can set the scene for the most fantastic holiday trip to kick off the holiday season right. 

Let’s take a look at five NYC traditions sure to put you in the holiday mood and mark the beginning of your celebrations. 

#1 The Rockefeller Christmas Tree 

By far, one of the most stunning sights in NYC during the holidays is the Rockefeller Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center Plaza on 49th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. 

You will want to see it all lit up so plan to visit during the appropriate hours. Starting December 1, 2022, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be lit daily from 6 a.m. to midnight. On Christmas Day, the tree is lit for 24 hours, and on New Year’s Eve, it is lit from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

In addition to taking in the lights on the tree, there are many activities right in the Plaza that your group may want to partake in including skating, having winter drinks in a nearby restaurant, or shopping at one of the local holiday shops. 

#2 Radio City Music Hall Performance of the Rockettes

The dazzling Christmas Spectacular starring the high-kicking Rockettes is a must-see for groups trying to take in the holiday activities in NYC. 

The show stars not only the Rockette’s precision dance team but wooden soldiers, and Santa himself makes an arrival just in time to spread holiday cheer! 

The shows run from November 18th through January 2, 2023. Get your tickets here or have Wolfe Tours plan your trip entirely. 

#3 The Winter Village at Bryant Park 

Every winter, Bryant Park turns into a winter wonderland filled with holiday shopping options, an ice skating rink, twinkling lights, and of course, amazing restaurants. 

Visit over 60 shopping kiosks with handmade and original gifts for the season, many of them having an NYC theme to them. Get your fill of good food and cocktails and then work it off with a few spoons around the ice rink. 

Times Square

#4 Visit Holiday Fairs & Markets

New York City parks and streets transform every holiday season when small temporary kiosks pop up selling unique holiday items that are sure to cross off many items on your Christmas gift list. 

Check out the Union Square Holiday Market through December 24th, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., and Sundays 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Here you can find over 160 artisans and vendors selling holiday gifts. 

#5 Holiday Window Displays 

Sometimes the best thing about NYC is walking around and enjoying the sights and sounds. You won’t want to miss the window displays on 5th Avenue where you can enjoy holiday-decorated windows in a theater-like fashion from the end of November through the New Year. 

Spending the holidays in New York City can get even the biggest Scrooge in the mood for the holidays, doing it with a group of friends or family can make it even more special. Check out Wolfe Tours and Adventures options for touring with your group today. 

 

NYC

Best Family-Friendly Attractions in NYC

family-friendly tours, New York City

Is this the summer you plan to show the kids New York City? Stick with Wolfe Tours because we can help you design a trip that will keep the children and adults in your group equally happy and interested in the history, sights, and activities! 

Taking a family-friendly vacation to the most populous and visited city in the U.S. means lots of prior planning to be sure to include places that are most interesting to all members of the family as well as flexible enough in case mood, weather, or needs change. 

Let Wolfe Tours plan your “Big Apple” trip that will excite all the members of your family, from the youngest to the oldest and everyone in between.

Times Square

Midtown Manhattan & Times Square 

Start your family-friendly tour off with a bang in Midtown Manhattan where you can pick and choose what you want to see and do for an entire day’s worth of sightseeing. 

In Midtown you can visit Madame Tussauds Wax Museum where they can hunt for celebrities and pose for Instagramable pictures with their favorite people. Tussauds has 5 floors of absolute fun including: a 4D Marvel movie, a 7D carnival game, and even a glass dome that sticks out into Times Square to offer awesome views of the activity below!

While you are in Midtown, be sure to check out the M&M store, the LEGO Store, or maybe even the Nintendo Store (unless you are trying to keep your kids from thinking about video games). 

Staten Island Ferry & Lady Liberty 

Looking for a cost effective way to see the Statue of Liberty without walking or going on extended tours of Ellis Island? Then you might be interested in the free Staten Island Ferry that will take you and your family around New York harbor. While on the ferry you will get ample photo opportunities with Lady Liberty as well as gorgeous views of the New York skyline. 

This is especially interesting to young children who have been studying immigration and how to become a U.S. citizen in their English or history classes. Statue of LibertySports Venues – Madison Square Garden or Yankee Stadium 

If you have a child or family member who loves sports you won’t want to miss visiting Madison Square Garden which is the home to the New York Rangers (NHL) and New York Knicks (NBA). It’s also the oldest arena for both the National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association. 

Take a short trip to visit Yankee Stadium in the Bronx next where the 27-time World Champion New York Yankees call home. Public transportation to the stadium is easy and spending a night watching world-class baseball can’t be beat! 

One World Observatory 

Change your perspective entirely by viewing NYC from above it all at One World Observatory. Children love knowing that they are riding to the top of the tallest building in the United States at 1,776 feet  above ground level as well as riding some of the fastest elevators in the world to get there! 

Love skyscrapers? Then take a visit to the Empire State Building as well! 

Visit a Museum or Attraction 

Depending upon the interests and hobbies of your group, there are so many fascinating museums to capture the minds and imaginations of everyone. 

From the NY Aquarium on Coney Island to the American Natural History Museum featured in the movie series A Night at the Museum, your family will love all the things to do and see. 

Don’t forget Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Brooklyn’s Children’s Museum, The NY Hall of Science, the Museum of Moving Image, the NY Botanical Gardens, the NYC Fire Museum, the National Museum of Mathematics, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and Spyscape just to name a few of the dozens of museums and attractions your child may have a special interest in. 

Broadway Shows 

We can not forget about the many Broadway shows that are currently running along the “Great White Way.” Talk to our tour specialists who can help you determine the needs and interests of your group to plan an evening on Broadway enjoying your favorite show! See a full list of shows here. Keep in mind that many family-friendly shows usually have a day and night showing.